New Here... | Arthritis Information

Hi, i was just diagnosed with RA, and I don't know a whole lot about it. I think this is a good place to start though.

My worst complaint or pain I should say is my hands/fingers. But now my ankles and feet are hurting badly. My feet have given me minimal trouble before, but I associated it with my weight. And they would only hurt if I was on them all day. Now it seems like since I've started the meds...they're really bad, every day. And after sitting for 1/2 hour or so, it's just excrutiating (SP?) when I get up. I guess my question is, is it the RA? Wouldn't the medicine be keeping it from getting worse?

I haven't learned too much about this yet, so please bare with me.

I also have Graves Disease...so I don't know how much that plays into all of this?

I'm new to RA too, so I don't have too much information, but I had a really similar experience in that only my shoulders and arms hurt at first and when I started Plaquenil my knees, legs and feet started getting weird pains (no swelling) that came and went. I've done a little investigating, and this doesn't seem to be a side effect. The only thing I found is that Plaquenil can cause muscle weakness, but only very rarely.

Also, I read somewhere that some people experience a worsening of their pain right after that get an actual diagnosis - maybe it's more awareness than anything else. If you get any info from your doctor related to this, please share! I will do the same.

I'm sorry you're in pain. I am too today, and it's no fun.

Welcome Amylynn;

That is not unusual, when you sit down for awhile and get up again the joints are stiff from sitting so it takes a little while for them to get going again. I am on my feet all day long when I sit down for awhile and then get back up my feet aren't happy but usually in about 20 minutes I am fine the feet just got to get use to me standing up again. May I suggest you go to your library and take some books out on ra there are many good books out there. Barnes & Nobles has a good selection and you can sit and read the book to see whether or not you want to purchase it for a reference bbok for you. Your dr has just started you out on meds, it takes a little while to find the right combination for you. Also with Graves disease, your thyroid needs to a be at a theraputic level if it is too low or too high it can cause your joints to ache even more. Again welcome to the board. meme

kel

Hi Amylynn and welcome! I am a hands, fingers, ankles and feet RA person also. The meds can take a while to help. I am always stiff and in pain after not moving for a while. I hope your meds kick in soon.

Welcome to the board! I too am a hands, finger, feet RA person. I am stiff too when I get up from sitting for a long time. It is just the nature of the beast.

Plaquenil is a very mild first line RA med. Give it some time and hopefully it will work for you. Call your RD if you are not getting any better and still in lots of pain.

Hello and welcome!! I'm a hands person too! And knee and shoulder! LOL

Everyone's given you GREAT advice!! :) Hope you like it here!!

Dear Amylynn, Dang!! yes! we have all experienced this 'AFTER we take the meds the pain is worse". Isn't that weird! , None of us can explain it or do we have an answer to WHY, OH WHY??? I told my doctor the last time (about 3 or 4 weeks ago "Hey, after I took the mtx I was hurting more". He had a hard time believing me although we've know each other for 10 years! All I can say is I'm glad you are taking the drugs and I hope you will continue to take them. It takes a fairly long time for them to work against this immune system that is attacking us! Maybe someone else can explain this better, but I understand how you feel. I'm also taking prednisone, along with methotrexate and Remicade, so all in all I'm getting much better. (was screaming with pain at the beginning of March!)

good luck, sarah

15 prednisone (trying to reduce mine, but maybe you could increase yours? Usually the doctors will let you go up and down in the dosage depending on how you feel)

Welcome, My RA started in my feet. Thought it was from being on them so
much. I was overweight which also I thought was a factor. I also had flu
type symptoms all the time for 5 or so years. I still do, like today. The gel
effect is common with RA. If I sit for lunch, I try to keep my ankles moving
while I'm eating so it is not so hard when I do get up and walk. Hopefully
your treatment will kick in and you will start to feel and function better.
Keep us posted. I just wanted to welcome you and tell you that I know how you feel with all of that pain in your feet. That is the worst effected part of my body too. I am working on losing weight and have joined a gym, but the arthritis in the feet makes it so hard to spend any amount of time on the treadmill, etc. My elbows are bad too and some of the arm exercises are out as well. It is just a vicious cycle.

NancyAmylynn, Welcome

I am a hands, fingers, feet elbows knees person. ive been on meds since last July and still when I get up from sitting I am stiff. But i do have better days than others on that. The weather here in the midwest and all over for that matter has really been sucky and probably is a big contributor to all the stiffness for me.

Last year April I was in the worst shape of my life and I am really greatful for the meds. I feel even if I still suffer some stiffness it's better than all the swelling and pain like last year before I was diagnosed.

Best for you to talk to your doctor and keep communicating how you feel and where the pain is. Maybe keep a diary. He or she may need to adjust or even change your meds.

Dear Thinkthinnnn, Oh I know what you mean. It is a mystery to me that so many people on this forum take a half dozen pills and still have pain and stiffness. When I took MTX all my pain and stiffness went away. Now I am in a different place in my 'recovery' from heart surgery and all, so I'm struggling with how much prednisone, mtx and remicade to be taking, but I don't have pain anymore. good luck sorting this all out...

sarah

Welcome!!!!

Head, Shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes...

I am going to be singing that all day, but it put a big smile one my face!!!

You are not alone, I think we all have symptons that someone can identify with on this board. It makes me feel so good, because I am not the only one with all these strange varying, come and go symptoms.

I had to laugh, I also thought all the pain in my feet, Mine felt like I was walking on glass whenever I first got up, was because I had put on weight!!! My feet feel so much better now, and I am a lot heavier

Please post with any questions or just to share how you are feeling, and let us know how it is going!!

Welcome to AI AmyLynn.

The worst of my problems started in my hands too. I doubt your increase in problems have anything to do with the meds; it's more likely your problems are just progressing. You never know though.

Hang in there. Hope to see you here more.

[QUOTE=Kiwilass2] I feel a song coming on - you know the chn's one:-
come along and sing with me!! Hands, shoulders, knees & toes - knees &
toes Hands, Shoulders, knees & toes - knees and toes And wrists, and
fingers and ankles too We're all in this together - me & you &nb sp; ME
AND YOU!!! Welcome Amylynn - you are among friends here!!
Take Care
[/QUOTE]

LOL kiwilass

Thank you all SOOOO much!! Sorry I didn't get back here sooner--my computer at home is on the fritz, so I had to wait til I came back to work today.

I definately have that song in my head too!

I managed to get out and walk a mile last night. Last week I tried one day and I wasn't sure if I'd make it home...when I did get home, I pretty much colapsed. My DH freaked out, but I was just exhausted and my ankles/feet were killing me. But exercise is good for me, right? I shouldn't just sit around I'm assuming?

I'm gonna go read some posts to see what more I can learn. I'll for sure get to the library and check out some books too.

Thanks again everyone!!

Hey Amylynn! I'm a newbie as well. as far as exercising, ask your doctors. I have noticed that they all have different opinions. my rheumy specifically told me to exercise daily. I do mostly strength and yoga. yoga seems to be very, very helpful and I find myself doing yoga poses when I'm feeling stiff. I prefer power yoga but when I'm in pain, other types work as well. so my reaction would be, yes! keep moving within your limits. I think hold still makes me even more stiff. I sit all day long for work so I make an effort to get up & walk around and actually take time to workout for at least 30 minutes every morning. I also try to do a short walk after dinner, weather permitting. Hello and welcome! Exercise is good, if you can do it. There is no way I could walk a mile right now even if my life depended on it! Its a fine line between rest and exercise. In my opinion, if th exercise is making your sore parts hurt worse, than it is too much or maybe you need to find a more gentle form of exercise, like swimming.

Thanks Hula and Michele.

I'll keep moving on my good days at least.